FORCE's eXamining the Relevance of Articles for You (XRAY) program looks behind the headlines of cancer news to help you understand what the research means for you.
XRAY is a reliable source of hereditary cancer research-related news and information.
Learn more about the XRAY program
Categories Palliative Care, Quality of Life, Survivorship
Article : Overview of pancreatic cancer treatment options
Most relevant for: People with pancreatic cancer
This review looks at current strategies for pancreatic cancer care and potential future therapies. (posted 7/28/21)
Este artículo está disponible en español.
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Relevance: High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Study : Women can have safe pregnancies after breast cancer treatment
Relevance: High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Most relevant for: Women who have had breast cancer who are considering pregnancy.
In a large analysis of all published studies to date, most women who become pregnant after breast cancer treatment had safe pregnancies, with no increase in their cancer recurrence risk. Infants of mothers treated for breast cancer were more likely to have low birth weight, preterm birth and small size at birth but there was no increase in birth defects. Breast cancer survivors who became pregnant had a similar risk of recurrence and survival as survivors who did not become pregnant. (posted 6/24/21)
Este artículo está disponible en español.
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Relevance: High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Study : Expanded access to Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act is linked to reduced cancer mortality
Relevance: High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Most relevant for: People with breast, colorectal or lung cancer.
In 2014 the Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid coverage. How did this affect healthcare for cancer patients? This study shows that deaths from breast, colorectal and lung cancer are lower in states that chose to expand Medicaid compared to states that did not. Early diagnosis was linked to lower death rates. This suggests that increased healthcare access may lead to earlier cancer detection and better outcomes, including lower mortality. (3/31/2021)
Este artículo está disponible en español.
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Study : Patient outcomes and experiences of going flat
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Most relevant for: Women considering mastectomy without breast reconstruction.
Some patients with early-stage breast cancer or those considering risk-reducing surgery may choose mastectomy without reconstruction. This is often referred to as “going flat.” The results of this study suggest that surgeons play a significant role in supporting a patient’s decision to go flat. (3/23/2021)
Este artículo está disponible en español.
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Study : How breast cancer patients experience hormone therapy
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Most relevant for: Breast cancer patients taking or considering taking hormone therapy
Side effects from hormone therapy are a common reason that many men and women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer stop treatment early. Some people never start hormone therapy. This study asked patients about their experiences with hormone (or endocrine) therapy. The results suggest that there may be ways to improve the number of patients who stick with therapy. Patients need better ways to manage hormone therapy-related side effects. (1/19/21)
Este artículo está disponible en español.
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Update : FDA approves new imaging drug for detecting spread of prostate cancer
Most relevant for: Men with prostate cancer
On December 1, 2020 the FDA approved a new type of imaging technology to confirm the spread of newly diagnosed prostate cancer that is suspected to be metastatic. The approval also includes use for confirming suspected recurrence in men who have rising PSA after treatment. The approval is based on two clinical trials that showed this new technique to be safe and consistent in accurately detecting cancer that has spread beyond the prostate gland. (1/7/21)
THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN UPDATED on 5/10/2022: On March 23, 2022 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new drug called Pluvicto to treat patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. ON the same day, the FDA also approved a new imaging drug called Locametz (a brand of Gallium 68 PSMA-11) for identification of those patients who would benefit from treatment with Pluvicto. Read about the FDA approval of Pluvicto and Locametz here.
Este artículo está disponible en español.
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
Study : Women support delayed removal of ovaries
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
Most relevant for: Women at high risk of ovarian cancer who are considering undergoing risk-reducing surgery.
Risk-reducing early removal of fallopian tubes followed by removal of ovaries at a later date was acceptable to women at high risk of ovarian cancer due to an inherited mutation in a recent study. This was especially true for women worried about sexual dysfunction associated with surgical menopause. (12/24/20)
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Update : FDA updates reported harmful events linked to breast implants
Most relevant for: People who have or are considering breast implants.
The FDA has updated reported cases of breast implant-associated cancer and breast implant illness. Included in this update is approval of a questionnaire that asks about quality of life and satisfaction with breast implants. (10/20/20). Note: On October 27, 2021 the FDA announced stronger guidance on breast implant safety.
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Personal Story : Coping with chemotherapy-induced hair loss
Most relevant for: People who receive chemotherapy for cancer treatment
Ovarian cancer survivor Stephanie Hess shared her personal story about how she coped with hair loss. This XRAY review also includes treatments to reduce this common side effect of chemotherapy. (9/28/20)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
Study : Insulin resistance linked to differences in breast cancer survival between Black and White women
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
Most relevant for: Black women
Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer compared to White women. More Black women have a condition called insulin resistance than White women. This study found that insulin resistance might be one of the reasons that Black women are more likely than White women to die from breast cancer. Additional research is needed to see if lowering insulin levels will improve breast cancer survival in Black women. (07/30/20)
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